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Report: Democrats Shooting For 60 Senate Seats
Senate Democrats are apparently feeling optimistic about 2008 — Roll Call reports that some of them are privately predicting a net gain of nine seats for a 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority.
Publicly, many of them are trying to keep expectations down. But not all of them are following the program. For example. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is openly soliciting contributions of $60 for his re-election, in honor of the 60-seat goal.
So can it be done? Theoretically, yes, but factors like Democratic recruitment, Republican recruitment, GOP retirements, and the overall political climate would all have to go for the Dems in a very big way. And Democrats would have to knock off Republican incumbents in some pretty big places — such as Elizabeth Dole (NC) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY).
But the Dems do have one advantage: They only have one or two endangered seats so far, while the Republicans' problem seats just keep piling up.
I would think America can only benefit from a 60 seat, Republican OBSTRUCTIONIST proof Democratic majority. That, coupled with a Democratic president would usher in a new Golden Age for the United States.
October 9, 2007 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
It can definitely be done. Check out two things:
1. These recently updated Senate Rankings show the depth of the Republican disarray.
2. There are now speculation as to whether the DSCC will convince the governors of OK, KS and WY to jump in Senate races.
October 9, 2007 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually the dems need 61 based on their math traitor joe "I love the king" lieberman has to be put out to pasture. Get 61 and buy, buy traitor joe. He can play footsie with the rest of the repukes in the cloak room, until 2010 and then maybe conneticut wakes up and recalls this bozo.
October 9, 2007 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Michael is correct in his analysis. Without 61 votes the insufferable Lieberman becomes unbearable. Imagine him being the one vote deciding whether or not legislation actually makes it to the floor for a vote. The Bloviating Prick would have to check for high wind advisories before daring a trip outdoors.
October 9, 2007 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
It wouldn't just be Lieberman. A larger majority would necessarily include some more conservative Democrats, so you'd have to worry about Lieberman, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor and some more guys like them.
That said, I'm sure this is a problem that Harry Reid would just love to have to deal with.
October 9, 2007 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Recalling a senator is unconstitutional. The Constitution sets the requirements for election to the senate, and does not provide for recalls.
What we absolutely need to do is strip Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Government Oversight Committee based on his non-performance in the job, and strip him of his Democratic seniority for supporting a Republican candidate in a local Connecticut race. That should be enough to get him to leave the party, and we will be stronger for having lost him. We'll pick up a few more seats in 2010 anyway, in Florida (Martinez), Ohio (Voinovich), and Pennsylvania (Specter).
October 9, 2007 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can (usually) stomach the two Nelsons and the other guys who have to deal with predominately conservative electorates. At least they're usually low key about it.
Connecticut is a predominately liberal state and yet Lieberman runs to the Republicans for votes so he can continue to spout the hardest of hardcore neocon insanity on the Sunday shows and write war-mongering editorials for the NYT and Wapo.
Most offensive of all, however, is the arrogant, almost sneering, way way he constantly invokes the threat of bolting as a means of getting his way. If you've ever watched a skunk wander around your backyard, he's got the same kind of insoucience, except with the skunk its amusing but with Joe its positively toxic.
I dream of the day they can strip him of his committee assignments and drop kick his ass out of the caucus. I only hope they do it when they can.
October 9, 2007 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric, Mark Pryor does not belong in the same category of constant undermining of the Democrats in the Senate as Lieberman and Ben Nelson.
October 9, 2007 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Id rather have 59 sans Lieberman than 60 with. If you take his chair, he'll switch to gooper in 30 seconds. The good news is he probably couldnt get re-elected as a goop.
October 9, 2007 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink